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An Act Regarding Positions at the Public Utilities Commission
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1. 2 MRSA §6-A, sub-§3, as amended by PL 2015, c. 8, §1, is further amended to read:
 
3. Other employees.   The salaries of the following employees are within salary range 53:
 
A. General counsel;
 
B. Director of telephone and water utility industries;
 
C. Administrative Director;
 
D. Director of electric and gas utility industries; and
 
E. Director of consumer assistance and safety.; and
 
F.  Director of emergency services communication.
Sec. 2. 5 MRSA §949, as amended by PL 2015, c. 8, §2, is further amended to read:
§ 949.Public Utilities Commission
 
1. Major policy-influencing positions.   The following positions are major policy-influencing positions within the Public Utilities Commission. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, these positions and their successor positions shall beare subject to this chapter:
 
A. General Counsel - Public Utilities Commission;
 
B. Director of telephone and water utility industries;
 
C. Administrative Director;
 
D. Director of electric and gas utility industries; and
 
E. Director of consumer assistance and safety.; and
 
F.  Director of emergency services communication.
Sec. 3. 35-A MRSA §107, sub-§1, ¶A, as amended by PL 2015, c. 8, §3, is further amended to read:
 
A. An administrative director, a director of telephone and water utility industries, a director of electric and gas utility industries and, a director of consumer assistance and safety and a director of emergency services communication;
Sec. 4. 35-A MRSA §107, sub-§2, ¶A, as amended by PL 2015, c. 8, §4, is further amended to read:
 
A. The general counsel, the administrative director, the assistant administrative director, the director of telephone and water utility industries, the director of electric and gas utility industries and, the director of consumer assistance and safety and the director of emergency services communication serve at the pleasure of the commission and their salaries must be set by the commission within the ranges established by Title 2, section 6-A.
Sec. 5. 35-A MRSA §107, sub-§2, ¶C, as amended by PL 2015, c. 8, §5, is further amended to read:
 
C. The salaries of the other subordinate officials and employees of the commission, other than those of the general counsel, the administrative director, the assistant administrative director, the director of telephone and water utility industries, the director of electric and gas utility industries, the director of consumer assistance and safety, the director of emergency services communication and the staff attorney and utility analyst positions, are subject to the Civil Service Law.
Sec. 6. Appropriations and allocations. The following appropriations and allocations are made.
 
PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION
 
Public Utilities - Administrative Division 0184
 
Initiative: Provides funding for 2 Utility Analyst positions and a Senior Consumer Assistance Specialist position and associated All Other costs.

OTHER SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS	2019-20	2020-21	
POSITIONS - LEGISLATIVE COUNT	0.000	3.000	
Personal Services	$0	$364,565	
All Other	$0	$24,618	
			
OTHER SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS TOTAL	$0	$389,183	

Emergency Services Communication Bureau 0994
 
Initiative: Provides funding for one Public Service Coordinator II position and associated All Other costs.

OTHER SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS	2019-20	2020-21	
POSITIONS - LEGISLATIVE COUNT	0.000	1.000	
Personal Services	$0	$106,384	
All Other	$0	$6,431	
			
OTHER SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS TOTAL	$0	$112,815	

PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION			
DEPARTMENT TOTALS	2019-20	2020-21	
			
OTHER SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS	$0	$501,998	
			
DEPARTMENT TOTAL - ALL FUNDS	$0	$501,998	

SUMMARY
This bill reclassifies the Public Utilities Commission's director of emergency services communication to be consistent with other commission directors. The bill also adds 4 positions to the commission: a Utility Analyst to perform utility rate case revenue requirement analysis and other activities; a Utility Analyst to perform communications and customer outreach activities; a Senior Consumer Assistance Specialist to perform administrative work in the receipt, analysis and resolution of consumer complaints; and a Public Service Coordinator II to perform 9-1-1 standards compliance, contract management and other tasks related to the administration of the Emergency Services Communication Bureau.